China mission to retrieve asteroid samples
Beijing: China launched its first mission to collect rock samples from a near-Earth asteroid early Thursday, aiming to deepen understanding of the formation and evolution of asteroids and the early solar system.
The unmanned Tianwen-2 spacecraft successfully took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in south-west China, according to state news agency Xinhua, citing the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The probe will travel for about one year to reach asteroid 2016 HO3, also called Kamo'oalewa. Upon arrival, it will orbit the asteroid to gain knowledge of the sampling area before collecting material from its surface. The samples are expected to be returned to Earth in a capsule by the end of 2027. (DPA)
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